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The Alert Collector: The Gothic Aesthetic: From the Ancient Germanic Tribes to
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The Gothic
Aesthetic
From the Ancient
Germanic Tribes to
the Contemporary
Goth Subculture
Rachel K. Fischer
Rachel K. Fischer is a Metadata Librarian at the University
of Alabama. She has a Master’s degree in Library and
Information Science from Dominican University, a Master
of Science in Management degree from Minot State
University, and a BFA in Fine Arts from Columbia College
Chicago. She can be reached at Rkfischer@ua.edu.
Correspondence concerning this column should be
addressed to Mark Shores; e-mail: shoresml@miamioh.edu.
volume 58, issue 3 | Spring 2019
THE ALERT COLLECTOR
Mark Shores, Editor
Goths. How did we get from warlike Germanic tribes sack-
ing Rome, to an aesthetic or subculture imbued with “the
dark and melancholy, a hint of horror tinged with romance.”1
This column will show you how widely this aesthetic is
represented in art, architecture, film, literature and more,
and along the way you will undoubtedly find some great
resources to add to your collections, from music CD, to
academic journals, reference works and the usual popular
and academic books. Rachel Fischer has ably put together
an excellent resource for anyone wanting to build a collec-
tion from the ground-up, or add some new and interesting
resources.—Editor
A
lthough the history of the ancient Germanic tribes
called the Goths, Visigoths and Ostrogoths occu-
pied a very small portion of world history texts,
their culture has influenced Western civilization
more than people may understand. Some historians believe
that the modern world would not be the same without them.
The Goths were not commonly known by what they called
themselves, like Thervingi (forest people) and Greuthungi
(steppe or rock people), but were called Goth because of
their barbaric nature. This ancient culture originally wor-
shipped Norse gods and was known for piracy. They were
most famous for the invasions of Rome that began in 238
CE, and the Visigoth sacking of Rome in 410 CE. This attack
greatly weakened the western Roman Empire and contrib-
uted to its eventual collapse, and the conquering of Italy
by Odoacer, a Germanic king, in 476 CE. Although these
tribes were frequently demonized for their barbaric nature,
they were acting out of fear. The Holy Roman Empire and
Christianity threatened their way of life. The Goths waged
war because they refused to be submissive to Rome’s control.
Studying this period of time provides us with a glimpse into
an important point in history as pagans fought and lost their
right to religious and cultural freedom.
The term Gothic was first used to describe a “barbaric”
aesthetic in the 1500s. Painter, architect, and historian Gior-
gio Vasari popularized the term Gothic as a pejorative term
to describe a grotesque or barbaric aesthetic, reminiscent of
the destruction of Roman buildings during the Gothic sack-
ing of Rome. Ironically, Gothic architecture was ascribed to
the popular style of the great cathedrals of Europe that were
first built in France during the twelfth and thirteenth cen-
turies and continued to be built through the sixteenth cen-
tury. This style can be described as ornate and flamboyant.
Due to criticism, it fell out of favor during a classical revival
period until a Gothic revival in the mid-eighteenth century.
143
The Alert Collector
Although William Shakespeare first portrayed the Gothic
tribes in the tragedy, Titus Andronicus, the term Gothic lit-
erature first emerged in England in the late eighteenth cen-
tury. It was used to describe a genre of horror most closely
associated with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Bram Stoker’s
Dracula, and the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Gothic literature
described an aesthetic of fear and terror. It also included
romance, a Byronic hero, and villains. Emily Brontë’s
Wuthering Heights and Daphne du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn were
nineteenth century examples. Southern Gothic literature has
emerged in the United States as a subgenre that portrays life
in the American South. In addition to portraying the societal
problems associated with poverty, slavery, and racial injus-
tice, it is characterized by crime and supernatural elements,
like ghosts, vampires, zombies, and magical realism associ-
ated with voodoo. Southern Gothic authors include Anne
Rice, Charlaine Harris, Toni Morrison, Tennessee Williams,
and Truman Capote.
A post-punk music scene emerged in the 1970s. This
included labels for many different sub-genres, including
Gothic rock, and the Goth subculture. The Gothic rock term
was most closely associated with English rock bands such
as Joy Division, the Cure, David Bowie, Sex Pistols, and
Siouxsie and the Banshees. American Gothic rock musi-
cians and bands included Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson,
and Nine Inch Nails. The term Goth has also been used to
describe subgenres of electronic music, such as Industrial
music, and a subgenre of folk music called Southern Gothic
music. Although these genres of music are quite different,
the lyrics have dark elements similar to those of Gothic
literature.
The Goth subculture that emerged from the post-punk
music scene was characterized by a love for the occult and a
certain dark fashion aesthetic wearing black clothing, black
nail polish and lipstick, dramatic makeup and dyed hair.
However, not all Goths wear black all the time. Cybergoths
wear neon colors. Despite having a name that means “bar-
baric,” the Goth subculture is far from it. Their dark fashion
aesthetic and love of the occult should not be feared. These
individualists who reject the status quo tend to be lovers of
the arts and culture and may be interested in searching for
a spiritual experience.
The Gothic aesthetic has permeated so many aspects of
history, politics and culture that a whole book could be writ-
ten on all of the items that could be included in a library’s
collection. Although works of fiction and movies have not
been included in this list, a librarian can refer to these books,
journals, and websites for assistance with choosing works
to include in a fiction or pop culture collection. Watching
videos on YouTube or listening to music on internet music
apps can be very helpful in choosing the right audiovisual
material to add to a pop culture collection.
Whether they are writing about the ancient history, the
Goth aesthetic, or the Gothic subculture, the authors on
these topics do have varying opinions and personal experi-
ences that should be represented in a nonfiction collection
144
to capture the depth of the scholarship on the topics. While
the majority of the books in the list that follows are scholarly
and more appropriate for academic libraries, the introduc-
tory and pop culture-related works would fit well in either a
public or academic library. The scholarly research on these
topics is still evolving, as the Goth music and art scene and
the Goth subculture are contemporary. Books have not been
written yet on Southern Gothic music. Librarians should
expect and watch for new books to be published on Gothic
topics.
BOOKS
Ancient and Medieval Culture
Collins, Roger. Visigothic Spain: 409–711. Malden: Blackwell
Publishing, 2006 (ISBN: 9781405149662).
Collin’s work is for readers interested in a higher level
academic study of the early medieval period of Spanish his-
tory. It covers the span of Visigothic rule, the Arab invasion,
and the rise of Spanish culture though a historiographical
approach that examines past and current historical and
archeological research and offers new theories about the
politics and culture of the Spain under the Visigoths.
Hasenfratz, Hans-Peter. Barbarian Rites: The Spiritual World
of the Vikings and the Germanic Tribes. Rochester, VT: Inner
Traditions, 2011 (ISBN: 9781594774218).
Hasenfratz’s in-depth and concise introduction to the
paganism of Vikings and Germanic tribes describes the
history, religion, magical and occult beliefs of the tribes
that worshipped gods like Odin, the Norse god of war. It
encompasses pre-Christian history, social classes and clan
systems, rites of passages, and battles of the “barbarians” of
Europe, as well as how it influenced the Nazis. The book’s
interesting take on these subjects would make it a perfect fit
for a public or academic library collection.
Heather, Peter. The Goths. Malden: Blackwell Publishing,
1998 (ISBN: 9780631209324).
The Goths is a comprehensive history of Goths, Gothic
society and Gothic identity. It covers history from the early
period through the Gothic revolution and fall of the West-
ern Roman Empire. This volume is a part of the Peoples of
Europe series. Its introductory nature would make it a good
resource for both public and academic libraries.
Hilgarth, J. N. The Visigoths in History and Legend. Toronto:
PIMS, 2009 (ISBN: 9780888441669).
Hilgarth examines the history of the Visigoths in the con-
text of Spanish history and legends. It addresses the influ-
ence of Gothic history on the descendants of the Visigoths,
and the origin of Spanish culture. Hilgarth examines how
these legends were defined and utilized by both Spanish
monarchies and authors of literature.
Reference & User Services Quarterly

Kulikowski, Michael. Rome’s Gothic Wars: From the Third Cen-
tury to Alaric. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008
(ISBN: 9780521608688).
Rome’s Gothic Wars: From the Third Century to Alaric is
an animated and stimulating history of the Gothic culture’s
relationship with Rome starting before the medieval period
p until Alaric’s sacking of Rome in 410. Kulikowski describes
how the Goths acted out of a state of desperation because
they did not want to be suppressed by Rome. Rome’s Gothic
Wars: From the Third Century to Alaric also examines how
history books have portrayed the Gothic culture.
Ward-Perkins, Bryan. The Fall of Rome and the End of Civi-
lization. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005 (ISBN:
9780192807281).
Ward-Perkins criticizes contemporary theories of a
peaceful transformation of Rome in favor of a traditional
theory that blames attacking barbarians for the empire’s
economic collapse. The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization
is a well-written and utilizes archeological evidence and eye-
witness accounts to prove that the fall of Rome was a violent
one. Although academic in nature, it can be found in both
public and academic libraries.
Architecture and Art
Becket-Griffith, Jasmine. Gothic Art Now. New York: Harper
Design, 2008 (ISBN: 9780061626999).
Gothic Art Now is an introduction to the contemporary
Gothic art of today’s Goth subculture. It includes painting,
illustration, sculpture, photography, and digital art. Becket-
Griffith’s book provides an introduction to the aesthetic of
popular Goth through its depictions of the Gothic influence
on fashion, literature, music, and graphic design so it would
make an excellent edition to a public or academic library
collection.
Brooks, Chris. The Gothic Revival. London: Phaidon, 2001
(ISBN: 9780714834801).
Brooks’ comprehensive coverage of the history of the
Gothic Revival spans through the entire movement from
the Victorian era to the post-punk Goth subculture. Brooks
analyzes the cultural meaning and influence of the move-
ment in relation to the historical context and influence on
modern culture. The all-inclusive and introductory nature of
this book makes it a good addition to a public or academic
library collection.
Carso, Kerry Dean. American Gothic Art and Architecture in the
Age of Romantic Literature. Cardiff: University of Wales Press,
2015 (ISBN: 9781783161607).
Carso analyzes the influence of British and American
Gothic literature on art and architecture in the United States.
Authors covered include Washington Irving, James Fenimore
Cooper, and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
volume 58, issue 3 | Spring 2019
The Gothic Aesthetic
Charles, Victoria and Klaus H. Carl. Medieval Art: Roman-
esque Art—Gothic Art (987–1489). New York: Parkstone Inter-
national, 2012 (ISBN: 9781906981037).
Medieval Art: Romanesque Art—Gothic Art (987–1489) is
a two-volume set on medieval architecture, painting and
sculpture from the late tenth to the fifteenth centuries. Vol-
ume one covers the Romanesque style, and volume two cov-
ers Gothic style. It is filled with many colorful illustrations
of cathedrals, paintings and sculpture, so this work would
fit well in a public or academic library.
Frankl, Paul. Gothic Architecture. New Haven: Yale University
Press, 2001 (ISBN: 9780300087994).
In this highly detailed study of Gothic architecture
Frankl analyzes the medieval architectural style as it evolved
from the Romanesque style to the Gothic style in Europe
from 1093 to 1530.
Kavaler, Ethan Matt. Renaissance Gothic: Architecture and the
Arts in Northern Europe, 1470–1540. New Haven: Yale Uni-
versity Press, 2012 (ISBN: 9780300167924).
Renaissance Gothic: Architecture and the Arts in Northern
Europe, 1470–1540 is a well-illustrated history of the art and
architecture of the late Gothic period of the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries. It focuses on the ornate and flamboyant
architectural and artistic details of the time period and what
the rich designs signified.
Lewis, Michael J. The Gothic Revival. New York: Thames and
Hudson, 2002 (ISBN: 9780500203590).
Michael Lewis’s The Gothic Revival is an introduction to
the Gothic Revival period of architecture. It covers the move-
ment as a whole, while also including individual buildings
in the United States and Europe. This volume is part of the
Thames and Hudson World of Art series, so its introduc-
tory nature would fit will in a public or academic library
collection.
Scott, Robert A. The Gothic Enterprise: A Guide to Understand-
ing the Medieval Cathedral. Berkeley: University of California
Press, 2011 (ISBN: 9780520269996).
Robert A. Scott’s take on the history of Gothic cathedrals
is an excellent edition to a public library collection. It pro-
vides an overview as a travel guide and is a comprehensive
general introduction to the architectural style. It explains
why the cathedrals were built, how they were built, and the
religious significance of the style.
Literature and Interdisciplinary Works
Abbruscato, Joseph, and Tanya Jones, eds. The Gothic Fairy
Tale in Young Adult Literature: Essays on Stories from Grimm
to Gaiman. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, 2014 (ISBN:
9780786479351).
Abbruscato and Jones’ essays discuss Gothic themes in
young adult literature as they relate to fairy tales and fantasy.
145
The Alert Collector
Some of the themes examined include evil step-parents,
incest, and cannibalism. Authors examined include Neil
Gaiman, Lemony Snicket, Orson Scott Card, Terry Pratch-
ett, and others. This work may be of interest to both high
school and college students, so it would fit well in a public
or academic library collection.
Anderson, Eric G., Taylor Hagood, and Daniel Cross Turner,
eds. Undead Souths: The Gothic and Beyond in Southern Lit-
erature and Culture. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University
Press, 2015 (ISBN: 9780807161074).
As the title promises, Undead Souths: The Gothic and
Beyond in Southern Literature and Culture is focused on the
themes of the undead, such as vampires and zombies, in
Southern American literature. The essays address issues
related to literature in a historical context, such as themes
related to the Civil War, slavery, Native American struggles,
and the Civil Rights Movement.
Armitt, Lucie. History of the Gothic: Twentieth-Century
Gothic. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2011 (ISBN:
9780708320075).
History of the Gothic: Twentieth-Century Gothic is the third
volume of the Gothic Literary Series. Lucie Armitt examines
themes such as supernatural creatures, metaphors related to
these creatures, and what they represent to contemporary
society. Authors discussed include Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,
Rudyard Kipling, Clive Barker, and others.
Crow, Charles L. History of the Gothic: American Gothic. Car-
diff: University of Wales Press, 2009 (ISBN: 9780708320440).
History of the Gothic: American Gothic is an important
volume in the Gothic Literary Studies series. Charles Crow
discusses three hundred years of Gothic literature produced
in America, including authors like Edgar Allan Poe and Toni
Morrison. He discusses the importance of American cultural
changes in relation to literature.
Davison, Carol Margaret. History of the Gothic: Gothic Lit-
erature 1764–1824. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2009
(ISBN: 9780708320457).
History of the Gothic: Gothic Literature 1764–1824 is the
first volume in the Gothic Literary Studies series. It takes a
historical look at the earliest Gothic authors and works of the
eighteenth and ninteenth centuries. Carol Margaret Davison
examines British political and cultural developments, as well
as Gothic literary themes of the time period.
Edwards, Justin, and Agnieszka Soltysik Monnet, eds. The
Gothic in Contemporary Literature and Popular Culture: Pop
Goth. New York: Routledge, 2014 (ISBN: 9781138016507).
This collection of essays tries to touch on all aspects of
popular culture that have been influenced by the Gothic
aesthetic and subculture. Essays include works on literature,
fashion, and music. Topics include monsters, Steampunk,
superheroes, and Lady Gaga. Although academic in nature,
146
its focus on pop culture allows this work to fit into a public
or academic library collection.
Ellis, Jay, ed. Southern Gothic Literature. Ipswich: Salem Press,
2013 (ISBN: 9781429838238).
Southern Gothic Literature is one of only a few volumes on
Southern Gothic Literature. It is a definitive work of essays
by international literary critics that examines novels, poetry,
and plays. Essays discuss works by authors like Cormac
McCarthy and Flannery O’Connor.
Ermida, Isabel. Dracula and the Gothic in Literature, Pop
Culture and the Arts. Leiden: Brill, 2015 (ISBN: 97890043
06172).
Isabel Ermida examines the development of the vampire
character from Bram Stoker’s Dracula to its contemporary
versions in literature, film, theater and pop culture in Drac-
ula and the Gothic in Literature, Pop Culture and the Arts.
It examines the symbolism in Gothic literature from the Vic-
torian era and contemporary culture. Although academic in
nature, its focus on pop culture allows this work to fit into
a public or academic library collection.
Killeen, Jarlath. History of the Gothic: Gothic Literature:
1825–1914. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2009 (ISBN:
9780708320693).
History of the Gothic: Gothic Literature: 1825–1914 is the
second volume of the Gothic Literary Studies Series. It is an
introduction to nineteenth-century Gothic literature. Ghost
stories, detective stories and adventure stories were common
genres of the time. Killeen uses this book to examine psy-
chological and theological themes in addition to discussing
the modernization of British society.
Morgan, Jack. The Biology of Horror: Gothic Literature and Film.
Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 2002 (ISBN:
9780809324712).
Jack Morgan discusses the horror genre as a theoretical
opposite of comedy. The essays examine themes and motifs
important to the genre of horror. Works discussed include
classics like Frankenstein, to modern authors, like H. P.
Lovecraft and Clive Barker. Films discussed include Inva-
sion of the Body Snatchers, Friday the 13th, Night of the Living
Dead, and others.
Mulvey-Roberts, Marie, ed. The Handbook to Gothic Lit-
erature. New York: New York University Press, 1998 (ISBN:
9780814756102).
The Handbook to Gothic Literature contains essays that pro-
vide an overview of key authors and terms related to Gothic
literature from the Victorian era through the twentieth cen-
tury. Due to its introductory nature this volume would fit in
a public or academic library collection.
Reference & User Services Quarterly

Snodgrass, Mary Ellen. Encyclopedia of Gothic Literature. New
York: Facts on File, 2004 (ISBN: 9780816055289).
This A-to-Z reference book would make a good addition
to a public, high school or college library. The entries cover
the eighteenth to twentieth centuries. The encyclopedia
includes articles on authors, terms, subgenres, and indi-
vidual works of British and American literature.
Spooner, Catherine. Contemporary Gothic. London: Reaktion
Books, 2006 (ISBN: 9781861893017).
Contemporary Gothic is an interdisciplinary work that
examines the Gothic aesthetic within contemporary popu-
lar culture. The book includes the topics of film, literature,
music, art, and the Goth subculture. Author Catherine
Spooner analyzes issues of contradictory themes of the
Gothic aesthetic.
Music
Elferen, Isabella van, and Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock. Goth
Music: from Sound to Subculture. New York: Routledge, 2016
(ISBN: 9780415720045).
Elferen and Weinstock provide an introduction and
analysis of the subgenres of music that are labeled “Goth”
in the United States and Europe. The book compares the
similarities and differences among the diverse Goth styles
and discusses the relationship of the music scene to the
Goth subculture.
Harriman, Andi, and Marloes Bontje. Some Wear Leather,
Some Wear Lace: The Worldwide Compendium of Postpunk and
Goth in the 1980s. Chicago: Intellect, The University of Chi-
cago Press, 2014 (ISBN: 9781783203529).
The photographs of bands and audience members in
Some Wear Leather, Some Wear Lace: The Worldwide Compen-
dium of Postpunk and Goth in the 1980s provide a glimpse into
the postpunk music and fashion scene of the 1980s. Essays
and interviews with musicians and audience members
expound on how the Goth music scene emerged from the
Postpunk era around the world. It emphasizes the creativity
and individuality of a music scene instead of defining it as a
subculture. The photographic and pop culture nature of this
work would fit well in a public or academic library collection.
Reed, S. Alexander. Assimilate: A Critical History of Indus-
trial Music. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013 (ISBN:
9780199832606)
Industrial music is a post-punk genre that is frequently
associated with Goth music. Reed’s study discusses the
development of the genre in a historical, political and social
context. It emphasizes the philosophical ideals of industrial
music, which sought to challenge the status quo.
volume 58, issue 3 | Spring 2019
The Gothic Aesthetic
Subculture
Brill, Dunja. Goth Culture: Gender, Sexuality, and Style. Oxford:
Berg, 2008 (ISBN: 9781845207670).
Dunja Brill’s ethnographic study was the result of field-
work conducted in the UK, US, and Germany. Fashion, gen-
der, and sexuality are explored as well as how it relates to the
identities of the Goth subculture. In addition to exploring the
significance of fashion, the work examines music, literature,
social theory and popular media.
Goodlad, Lauren M. E., and Michael Bibby, eds. Goth:
Undead Subculture. Durham: Duke University Press, 2007
(ISBN: 9780822339212).
These scholarly essays on the Goth subculture cover the
topic of gender, spirituality, music, film, specific communi-
ties, and cultural practices. The essays explore the issues of
consumerism, resistance of the status quo, interest in the
occult as an “undead” subculture, and an impact on culture.
Hodkinson, Paul. Goth: Identity, Style and Subculture. Oxford:
Berg, 2002 (ISBN: 9781859736005).
Paul Hodkinson’s Goth: Identity, Style and Subculture was
the first full scale ethnographic study of the Goth subculture
from an insider. This work discusses fashion, music, social
habits, and the Internet. Hodkinson discusses how media
and commerce strengthened group identity.
Issitt, Micah. Goths: A Guide to an American Subculture. Santa
Barbara: Greenwood, 2011 (ISBN: 9780313386046).
Goths: A Guide to an American Subculture is meant for
students; it includes textbook elements such as a glossary,
sidebars, and biographical sketches. Issitt compares Goth
culture to a contemporary mainstream culture. The intro-
ductory nature of this book would fit well in a public or
academic library collection.
Kilpatrick, Nancy. The Goth Bible: A Compendium for the
Darkly Inclined. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2004 (ISBN:
9780312306960).
The Goth Bible: A Compendium for the Darkly Inclined
explains the entire history of the Gothic aesthetic, from the
ancient Germanic tribes to the Goth subculture. It discusses
how the subculture has been misrepresented by media and
also includes interviews from musicians, artists, and indi-
viduals that identify with the Goth subculture. The introduc-
tory nature of this book would fit well in a public or academic
library collection.
Siegel, Carol. Goth’s Dark Empire. Bloomington: Indiana Uni-
versity Press, 2005 (ISBN:9780253217769).
In Goth’s Dark Empire, Siegel examines elements of the
Goth subculture that are often considered “dark” by the
mainstream such as resisting sexual norms and sadomasoch-
ism. Siegel focuses on the issue of resisting sexual norms,
such as an interest in sadomasochism. It discusses Goth
147
 The Alert Collector
subculture as portrayed in movies and the music scene, and
explains how the subculture became an underground scene.
MUSIC
The Dark Box: The Ultimate Goth, Wave and Industrial Collec-
tion: 1980–2011. Los Angeles: Cleopatra Records, 2012.
The Dark Box: The Ultimate Goth, Wave and Industrial Col-
lection: 1980–2011 is a four-disc box set of music commonly
associated with the Goth subculture, including Goth music,
Electronic, and Industrial music. Many of these bands are
European groups and are a good introduction to post-punk
music for public library collections. Some of the bands
include Joy Division, The 69 Eyes, and Christian Death.
Goth Industrial Club Anthems. Los Angeles: Cleopatra Records,
2015.
This three-disc set of Gothic rock music is a good intro-
duction to the bands that defined the post-punk genre. It
would fit well into a public library collection. Some of the
bands include Bauhaus, Rosetta Stone, 45 Grave, and Fields
of Nephilim.
JOURNALS
Aeternum: The Journal of Contemporary Gothic Studies. https://
www.aeternumjournal.com/ (ISSN: 2324-4895).
Aeternum: The Journal of Contemporary Gothic Studies is a
peer-reviewed, open access, interdisciplinary journal. The
research featured in the journal focuses on literature, televi-
sion, new media and film. The journal recognizes the impact
that the Gothic aesthetic has had on culture, technology,
politics, and even food.
148
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Gothic Studies. Manchester: Manchester University Press
(ISSN: 1362-7937).
Gothic Studies is the official journal of the International
Gothic Association. It features peer-reviewed articles on
Gothic studies from the eighteenth century to the present,
including the disciplines of literature, film, television, the-
ater, and the visual arts.
WEBSITES
Horvath, Ibolya, et. al., eds. “Ancient History Encyclopedia”
(https://www.ancient.eu).
The Ancient History Encyclopedia provides comprehen-
sive coverage of culture from prehistoric times to the Middle
Ages. It includes multiple articles on the Goths among its
highly detailed and scholarly entries.
Smith, Alicia Porter. “A Study of Gothic Subculture: An
Inside Look for Outsiders” (http://www.gothicsubculture
.com).
The goal of this website is to explain the Goth subculture
in a realistic manner in order to eliminate misconceptions.
It contains information on history, culture, religious views,
drug use and other criminal activity, advice for parents, and
a message board.
Reference
1. Issitt, Micah L. Goths: A Guide to an American Subculture (Santa
Barbara, CA: Greenwood, 2011). 
Reference & User Services Quarterly